Breastfeeding Delaying Weight-loss?

I was a size 10-12 before I got pregnant, then I gained about 35 pounds during my pregnancy. I lost 12 pounds right when I gave birth almost 7 months ago, but I haven't lost A SINGLE pound since then! I am now a size 16, despite changing my eating habits (to healthier choices) and walking 4 days a week. Still the scale won't budge! I have never been this heavy in my entire life and I absolutely hate it! One of my breastfeeding friends told me that she was not able to lose any of her baby weight until she weened her son. Have any of you experienced this, where you were unable to lose weight while breastfeeding, but it came off once you stopped? (Note: I will not stop breastfeeding until my daughter is over a year old, I just need to know if there is hope for me then!)

I was a size 10-12 before I got pregnant, then I gained about 35 pounds during my pregnancy. I lost 12 pounds right when I gave birth almost 7 months ago, but I haven't lost A SINGLE pound since then! I am now a size 16, despite changing my eating habits (to healthier choices) and walking 4 days a week. Still the scale won't budge! I have never been this heavy in my entire life and I absolutely hate it! One of my breastfeeding friends told me that she was not able to lose any of her baby weight until she weened her son. Have any of you experienced this, where you were unable to lose weight while breastfeeding, but it came off once you stopped? (Note: I will not stop breastfeeding until my daughter is over a year old, I just need to know if there is hope for me then!)

Congratulations on deciding to breastfeed your baby! For me, it was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad I was able to breastfeed both my kids. But unfortunately, you are correct, our bodies are designed to hold on to the weight because of breastfeeding. So don't give up hope, the weight should come off either when you are breastfeeding less (when baby is eating more solid food) or when baby is completely weaned. I gained 50 pounds with each of my pregnancies and kept the weight until the babies were eating more solids (around 7-9 months), then lost the weight all of a sudden without changing my eating/exercising routines. Best Wishes!

Congratulations on deciding to breastfeed your baby! For me, it was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad I was able to breastfeed both my kids. But unfortunately, you are correct, our bodies are designed to hold on to the weight because of breastfeeding. So don't give up hope, the weight should come off either when you are breastfeeding less (when baby is eating more solid food) or when baby is completely weaned. I gained 50 pounds with each of my pregnancies and kept the weight until the babies were eating more solids (around 7-9 months), then lost the weight all of a sudden without changing my eating/exercising routines. Best Wishes!

OMG!! I am sooo in your shoes right now... I managed to loose 10 pounds and that was it. Plus I noticed that when I was on the diet, my milk decreased even though I was intaking 1600 calories, it was evident in my baby's weight gain rate that is had slowed down because of my diet so I stopped immediately and kept working out but still didn't loose anything...I am sooo frustrated. I don't want to wean until she's one too and I very unhappy that all the hard work isn't paying off (as far as weight loss). Thanks for bringing up this question, it made me realize that I'm not the only one. The worse part is that there are so many SAHM's in my neighborhood who are NOT breastfeeding and have all lost their baby weight, I feel like the odd ball out but I know I'm doing the right thing for me and my baby. Thanks again!

OMG!! I am sooo in your shoes right now... I managed to loose 10 pounds and that was it. Plus I noticed that when I was on the diet, my milk decreased even though I was intaking 1600 calories, it was evident in my baby's weight gain rate that is had slowed down because of my diet so I stopped immediately and kept working out but still didn't loose anything...I am sooo frustrated. I don't want to wean until she's one too and I very unhappy that all the hard work isn't paying off (as far as weight loss). Thanks for bringing up this question, it made me realize that I'm not the only one. The worse part is that there are so many SAHM's in my neighborhood who are NOT breastfeeding and have all lost their baby weight, I feel like the odd ball out but I know I'm doing the right thing for me and my baby. Thanks again!

Karen,I had the same experience with my first son--I gained 53 pounds, lost 27 in 2 weeks and then struggled with losing weight after that. I nursed him for 20 months and even 2 years later was 12 pounds heavier than pre-pregnancy when I got pregnant with #2. My new baby is 6 1/2 weeks old now, I only gained 28 pounds with him.The good news (for me anyway) is that by nursing alone I have lost all but 2 1/2 pounds of what I gained with this baby. Now comes the challenge of losing the 20-25 extra that I wanted to lose before I got pregnant this time. I am hopeful, but aware that it may not come easy.

I guess I wanted to encourage you-- I think every pregnancy is different, and therefore the weight loss that comes afterward will be also. I was a size 7-8 when I got pregnant the first time, and am now holding steady at a 10 (sometimes 12). What I have noticed this time is that my jeans are actually loose, my shape is different now. (maybe the weight is in my breasts?) Just hold on knowing that you are doing the right thing for your baby, try to stay active and it WILL happen for you.

Karen,I had the same experience with my first son--I gained 53 pounds, lost 27 in 2 weeks and then struggled with losing weight after that. I nursed him for 20 months and even 2 years later was 12 pounds heavier than pre-pregnancy when I got pregnant with #2. My new baby is 6 1/2 weeks old now, I only gained 28 pounds with him.The good news (for me anyway) is that by nursing alone I have lost all but 2 1/2 pounds of what I gained with this baby. Now comes the challenge of losing the 20-25 extra that I wanted to lose before I got pregnant this time. I am hopeful, but aware that it may not come easy.

I guess I wanted to encourage you-- I think every pregnancy is different, and therefore the weight loss that comes afterward will be also. I was a size 7-8 when I got pregnant the first time, and am now holding steady at a 10 (sometimes 12). What I have noticed this time is that my jeans are actually loose, my shape is different now. (maybe the weight is in my breasts?) Just hold on knowing that you are doing the right thing for your baby, try to stay active and it WILL happen for you.

I really hope to share a similar experience. My daughter is just over 7 months right now, but she still doesn&#39;t eat a whole lot of solids. She eats a great variety of solids, but not enough to really lessen her need to breastfeed. Perhaps my modified diet and exercise will pay off in the next few months. Thanks for the encouragement!

I really hope to share a similar experience. My daughter is just over 7 months right now, but she still doesn&#39;t eat a whole lot of solids. She eats a great variety of solids, but not enough to really lessen her need to breastfeed. Perhaps my modified diet and exercise will pay off in the next few months. Thanks for the encouragement!

Thanks for you post! It has given me hope!! I've been EBF for almost 5 months now and after reading everything on how BF is suppose to help lose the weight, have been so upset with myself. Even with making healthy choices the weight is staying on ((just keeps shifting around)). I am trying to BF for a year also so I def have something to lok forward to! Good luck...maybe we'll get some results soon!

Thanks for you post! It has given me hope!! I've been EBF for almost 5 months now and after reading everything on how BF is suppose to help lose the weight, have been so upset with myself. Even with making healthy choices the weight is staying on ((just keeps shifting around)). I am trying to BF for a year also so I def have something to lok forward to! Good luck...maybe we'll get some results soon!

completely my experience to the t. a girl that works for me said she bfed and lost all and more of her weight. i had concluded that her baby was twice the size of mine and maybe the morethe baby ate, the more rapid the weight loss until i read this thread. my baby came 8 wks early and only weighed 4.13 lbs. but i lost like 10 lbs and then gained 7 back. the fluctuation is the most frustrating.hang in there.bonnie

completely my experience to the t. a girl that works for me said she bfed and lost all and more of her weight. i had concluded that her baby was twice the size of mine and maybe the morethe baby ate, the more rapid the weight loss until i read this thread. my baby came 8 wks early and only weighed 4.13 lbs. but i lost like 10 lbs and then gained 7 back. the fluctuation is the most frustrating.hang in there.bonnie

Hi there, My name is sonia and i had my first baby 08/08.09 I was a size 7/8 and during my pregnancy i gained 80lbs within the first month i lost 40lbs but i still have another 40lbs to go. She is 2 months and since then i havent lost 1 pound!! I go to the gym 2-3times a week doing cardio/light weight training and nothing!! It is extremely depressing. My regular clothes dont fit and my maternity clothes fit too big!! I dont want to buy in between clothes! I can relate to everyone hear. I dont want to stop bf my daughter as like all the woman here i too want to bf her till 1year old. I'm too afraid to try dec calories as per some of the woman on here saying milk supply will decrease. Does anyone have any solutions??

Soniathanks for listening

Hi there, My name is sonia and i had my first baby 08/08.09 I was a size 7/8 and during my pregnancy i gained 80lbs within the first month i lost 40lbs but i still have another 40lbs to go. She is 2 months and since then i havent lost 1 pound!! I go to the gym 2-3times a week doing cardio/light weight training and nothing!! It is extremely depressing. My regular clothes dont fit and my maternity clothes fit too big!! I dont want to buy in between clothes! I can relate to everyone hear. I dont want to stop bf my daughter as like all the woman here i too want to bf her till 1year old. I'm too afraid to try dec calories as per some of the woman on here saying milk supply will decrease. Does anyone have any solutions??

Im glad Im not the only one who feels BF is hindering weight loss, with my first son I only BF for about 2 weeks exclusivley then 2 months after that. The weight melted off. I was also 6 years younger than I am today. This time I vowed to give my baby as much as my BM as I could produce even if it isnt 100% for a year. I lost the inital 20lbs after birth, but now 4 months later Im stuck with the 15 extra lbs that I cant seem to shake and a belly that looks like a bowl of jello. I have tried walking, crunches, eating all healthy food, fresh fruits and veggies, no matter how hard I try it wont come off. I will keep nursing and pumping for a year because that is more important to me than a flatering body, but it is frustrating and Im glad to know Im not alone. I encourage everyone to keep nursing, baby comes first, vanity second.

Im glad Im not the only one who feels BF is hindering weight loss, with my first son I only BF for about 2 weeks exclusivley then 2 months after that. The weight melted off. I was also 6 years younger than I am today. This time I vowed to give my baby as much as my BM as I could produce even if it isnt 100% for a year. I lost the inital 20lbs after birth, but now 4 months later Im stuck with the 15 extra lbs that I cant seem to shake and a belly that looks like a bowl of jello. I have tried walking, crunches, eating all healthy food, fresh fruits and veggies, no matter how hard I try it wont come off. I will keep nursing and pumping for a year because that is more important to me than a flatering body, but it is frustrating and Im glad to know Im not alone. I encourage everyone to keep nursing, baby comes first, vanity second.

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